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Choosing a web host is typically one of the first decisions you’ll make when setting up your website. However, over time you may come to regret your choice of provider. If this happens, you’ll be faced with the prospect of migrating your website from one host to another.Fortunately, that process is more straightforward than it might first appear. This is especially true if you’re moving your WordPress site to a host that will provide a better, safer home for it — like DreamHost! What’s more, this can be done in just a few steps, thanks to our new Automated Migration plugin. In this article, we’ll show you how to easily migrate your site to DreamHost in six steps using our plugin. We can’t wait to show you how it works, so let’s dive right in!

Easily Migrate Your WordPress Site

Leave your current hosting hassles behind and get back to focusing on what matters most. Move to DreamHost today with our free, automated migration plugin.

Why You Might Want to Migrate Your WordPress Website

When we talk about migrating your website, we mean moving it from one web host to another. Typically, one of the first things you’ll do when creating a new site is to sign up with your chosen hosting provider.

Typically, they’ll take care of getting your site online, so people are actually able to visit it.However, if you decide you want to move your site to a different host after it’s been functioning for a while, you’ll need to migrate all your files and database information.

There are many reasons why you might want to migrate your WordPress site to a different host, including:

Your website has grown over time, and you need more options, functionality, or space to keep up with it

Your current host doesn’t provide the security features or support options you’re looking for

Your site is experiencing poor performance or a lot of downtime

If you feel it’s time for a change, whether due to the above reasons or something else entirely, your first step will be to find a new host that’s a better fit. You should look for one providing excellent performance and uptime, plenty of flexibility and “scalable” options, and top-notch security and support.Here at DreamHost, we offer hosting plans that meet all of these criteria and more. You can choose from affordable shared hosting packages, or opt for DreamPress — a fully-managed solution. Either way, you’ll benefit from great performance, lots of useful, WordPress-specific features, and expert support.Best of all, migrating your site to DreamHost is a simple process when you use our Automated Migration plugin.

Related: 12 Reasons Why Your Website Is Slow (And How to Fix Them)

Introducing DreamHost Automated Migration

If you’ve decided to migrate your WordPress website, you have several options. As we mentioned above, you can often have your new host take care of the process for you. Advanced users may be interested in manual migration options, such as using WP-CLI. However, in many cases, the simplest option is to use a plugin.That’s why we worked with the team over at BlogVault to create a tool specifically designed to help you migrate your site to DreamHost. With DreamHost Automated Migration, not only do you get the ease of using a plugin, but you also know that your migration will be tailored to our hosting services. This also means you won’t have to take the extra step of cloning your website before you move it.

Key Features:

Enables you to move or migrate your WordPress site to DreamHost.

Lets you copy your files and database over to your new hosting account without cloning your site separately.

Only requires six simple steps, from installation to migration.

This really is the simplest way to migrate your website and know that it will fit right into your DreamHost account.

Pricing: The DreamHost Automated Migration plugin is available for free to DreamHost account holders. This means that if you’ve recently switched to DreamHost or are considering it, your migration process just got easier and a whole lot more budget-friendly!

How to Migrate Your WordPress Website to DreamHost (In 6 Steps)

Now that we’ve covered the basics, it’s time to discuss how to actually perform your site migration. The six steps below will help you move your site from your current hosting provider to your new DreamHost plan.

Step 1: Prepare for the Migration Process

Migrating your site to DreamHost (or any web host) is a fairly simple process. However, there are a few tasks you’ll want to take care of before proceeding:

Make sure you’ve updated your WordPress installation to the most recent version.

Check your themes and plugins to ensure that they’ve all been updated or deleted if no longer in use.

After you have all of the above items in place, you’re ready to get started!

Step 2: Locate Your Migration Key in Your DreamHost Account

Once you’ve established your account, log into your user panel and navigate to the Free Migration tab directly from your Home page.

There, you’ll see where you can click on Generate Migration Key. You’ll need this to complete the migration process. Once you select it, your key will appear below the button.

You’ll need this information for the next step, so it’s best to leave your browser tab open for easy access. It’s important to note that the migration key generator is not available on Virtual Private Servers (VPSs) or dedicated hosting plans. Keys can be requested by contacting our support team or you can manually enter your host details.

If you have a shared plan where you host more than one website, you may not see the generator in your account. If that’s the case, you’ll need to contact our support team to request your migration key or any additional keys you may need.

Locating Your Migration Key in DreamPress Accounts

It’s important to note that for DreamPress accounts, this process is the same, but your migration option will be located in a different place. In your user panel, you’ll go to WordPress > Managed WordPress in the left-hand menu. You’ll then find a Migration tab among your options.

Next, you’ll see the Generate Migration Key button. Click on this, and you’ll receive your unique key to be used during the migration process. This is the key our plugin needs to access and move your site’s files and database.

It’s recommended that you leave this page of your user panel open, and head over to your WordPress website by opening another browser tab.

Step 3: Install the Free DreamHost Automated Migration Plugin

In your WordPress website dashboard, navigate to Plugins > Add New and use the Search field to find the DreamHost Automated Migration plugin.

Click on Install Now, and then Activate the plugin once the installation is complete.

Step 4: Use Your Migration Key to Start Your Migration

You’ll recall that we recommended leaving your DreamHost user panel open in another tab. Now you’ll go back to that tab, copy your migration key, and head back to WordPress.

You’ll see a DreamHost option in your left-hand menu. Click on that, and you’ll be able to add your migration key.

Paste the migration key from your DreamHost account into the Migration Token field. You’ll need to agree to our partner BlogVault’s Terms of Service as well. Once you check that box, click on Migrate.

Step 5: Track the Progress of Your Migration

Next, you can either wait for an email from the DreamHost team or watch the progress of the migration in your WordPress dashboard. This will let you know when your migration is complete.

Additionally, if there are any issues with your migration, you’ll receive the relevant information on this screen.

Step 6: Update Your DNS Records

Once you receive notice that your site has been successfully migrated, you should review it within your DreamHost account. If your domain is the same at DreamHost and your old host, you can review this by adding “dream.website” to the end of your DreamHost domain. If you’ll be using a different domain name at DreamHost or are using a temporary subdomain, visit our knowledge base for additional steps.

You’ll also want to make sure that your domain is pointing to your newly-migrated website. This means updating your Domain Name System (DNS) information.

You can find DreamHost’s DNS address by going to Domains in your user panel and clicking on DNS underneath your domain.

Providing this DNS information to your existing domain registrar will ensure that your domain is pointed at the correct web content, now hosted with us at DreamHost.That’s it! Your migrated site should now be up and running. It’s a smart idea to test your new site thoroughly and make sure everything has been transferred correctly. Then you can delete your old site, and enjoy your new quality hosting with DreamHost.

Make Your Move

Whether you need help migrating a website, installing WordPress, or vetting web hosting plans, we can help! Subscribe to our monthly digest so you never miss an article.

It’s Simple to Switch Web Hosts

Migrating your website to a new host might be a bit of a hassle, but it can be well worth it in the long run. If your current host isn’t up to par, you’ll want to switch to a new host that provides the performance, stability, and security your site needs to thrive. Plus, WordPress users will find that the process can be handled easily using our own Automated Migration plugin.

One of the best things about Minecraft is the ability to collaborate with other gamers. If your Minecraft friends all use different devices and platforms, however, collaborating can be problematic. Consequently, you might be wondering how you can set up your own server and permit players on multiple devices to join in.

Fortunately, Mojang has created a solution. The Bedrock Edition of its popular game enables gamers on a wide variety of devices to play on the same server. Additionally, here at DreamHost, we have several hosting solutions to suit your Minecraft gaming needs.

In this article, we’ll go over what you need to know about the Bedrock Edition. We’ll also discuss the benefits of managing your own game server. Then we’ll walk you through the six steps you’ll need to set up Minecraft on your own server. Let’s get started!

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What You Need to Know About the Minecraft Bedrock Edition

Minecraft’s popularity has remained high over the years. New developments that bring the game to more and more devices have helped it gain broad appeal. In fact, 91 million people were actively playing the game each month in 2018.

When it comes to understanding the different Minecraft editions, the most important thing to keep in mind is who you can connect and play with when using each version. When you’re playing the game in the original Java version, you’ll only be able to communicate and play with other Java users.

This means there may be some players you can’t connect with if they are using other versions or devices. The Bedrock Edition, on the other hand, enables players to unite in the game world, regardless of the devices they’re using. This means an Xbox gamer can join a PC gamer and a Nintendo Switch player in the same Minecraft game world. One important caveat: at this time, there’s no Bedrock release for Mac, meaning the Java client for Mac won’t be able to connect to a Bedrock server.

The Benefits of Hosting Your Own Bedrock Edition Server

If you’re an avid Minecraft gamer, and you want more flexibility and control over your game world, the Bedrock Edition should be right up your alley. There are several benefits to setting up your own server, including:

Cross-platform play. When you host the Bedrock Edition on a dedicated server, you’ll be able to play with friends across all platforms and multiple devices.

User control. With a dedicated server, you’ll also have full control over who joins the game, which can be a valuable safety mechanism with multi-generational players.

Customized settings. The Bedrock Edition gives you a lot more customization options than the Java edition, including a new character creation option.

We’ll cover controls and customizations in more detail later on. It’s also worth noting that another one of the benefits of Minecraft is the vast user community and wealth of online knowledge bases you can access about the game.

Why You Should Consider a Dedicated Server for Your Minecraft Setup

If you’re familiar with WordPress, you know there are two options for creating a website with the platform. You can use the WordPress.com servers, or you can purchase server space and host your own copy of the open-source software.

Minecraft is similar, in that you can use its Realms option and pay to host a private server at an extra monthly fee. Just as with WordPress, there are limitations to this option, which you can avoid if you use your own dedicated server.

Here at DreamHost, we offer an excellent solution if you’re looking for more control. Our dedicated server plans are fully-managed and have the speed, security, and memory you need to host Minecraft Bedrock.

Of course, we’re all about giving you options. If a dedicated plan is not what you need right now, you can also explore setting up a Minecraft server with our DreamCompute cloud hosting instead.

How to Set Up a Minecraft Bedrock Edition Server With DreamHost (In 6 Steps)

Setting up a dedicated server for Minecraft requires some knowledge of server programming. You’ll need to use Terminal to execute commands and create a few files in a plain-text editor. Let’s walk through how this process works in six steps.

Step 1: Create an Admin User on Your Server

The first thing you’ll need to do is create a user with administrator rights on your dedicated DreamHost server. To do that, you’ll access your DreamHost Panel.

Once logged in, you can navigate to Dedicated Servers > Admin Users. There, you can see any existing users and create new ones.

Next, click on Add a New Admin User. This will take you to a form where you’ll need to designate a username and password.

Once you complete the necessary information, select Add Admin User. It may take a few minutes for this information to appear on the User Admins page.

To fully access your server and complete the steps necessary to install the Minecraft Bedrock Edition, you’ll also need to set up your user admin as a Secure Socket Shell (SSH) user in your DreamHost user panel.

You’ll then access your server using a terminal client so you can run command lines, rather than merely transferring files as you would with a Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) application. This process can work differently on a Mac than it does on a Windows machine.

Step 2: Download the Server Software

To get the Bedrock Edition of Minecraft working on your server, you’ll need to install Java Runtime Environment (JRE) — you can use our command line instructions below. This is what enables Minecraft to run on your server since the game is essentially a Java application. Java is also the programming language that allows the game to be played on multiple platforms.

Once you download the appropriate server software for your system, you’ll be able to access detailed user guides to use as you configure your server. It’s important to note that the server software is free to download, but you will need to have an active Minecraft account and a copy of the game in order to run it from your server.

Upload (via SFTP) the extracted folder to the admin user’s home directory.

You might find similar command lines in other tutorials online, but these snippets have been adjusted explicitly for your DreamHost server. You’ll just need to replace “your-admin-user” with the username you set up in the previous step.

You should refer to your software documentation for further instructions if needed. Additionally, there are specific instructions for Linux users that may require slightly different commands.

It’s also important to note that while Bedrock enables multi-platform gameplay, all users will need to make sure they are running the same version of the game as the version installed on the server.

Step 3: Configure Your Server Properties

Now that you have the right software installed and can launch your server, you’ll need to begin configuring the properties of the game server. You can do this by opening the server.properties file in a plain text editor or code editor. This file should have come packaged with your server software.

Your server documentation will contain a list of allowable syntax options. This is where you’ll customize your game on the server. There is an extensive list of options specific to the Bedrock Edition. For example, you can configure properties for:

gamemode: By default, this is always set to “survival” mode, but you can configure it to survival (0), creative (1), or adventure (2).

difficulty: Your options for setting the difficulty level are peaceful (0), easy (1), normal (2), and hard (3), and it will be set to “easy” by default.

max-players: You can set any number you want for this, although higher numbers may have an impact on the server’s performance.

allow-cheats: This can be set to “true” or “false”, and is used to control the ability of all players on the server to use cheat commands.

You’ll need to restart your server once you’ve made changes to the properties file, in order for them to take effect.

Step 4: Develop and Save Your Player Whitelist

If players are having trouble accessing and playing the game on your server, you may need to create a whitelist file. This will add specific gamer information for your server to recognize. The file can contain the following command line:

[ { "ignoresPlayerLimit": false, "name": "YOURGAMERTAGHERE" }]

This snippet is specifically designed for Xbox Live Gamertags. You’ll also need to enable the whitelist option in your server.properties file. Once you’re done adding information to the file, you’ll want to save it to the same directory as your server software’s executable files.

Step 5: Create a Player Permissions File

Next, it’s a good idea to create a file that controls all of your player permissions. This will keep your game world safe and secure.

You’ll first want to create a new file in a code or plain-text editor and call it permissions.json. Then, save this to the same location as your server software’s executable files. Just make sure you don’t save the file with a .txt extension, but use .json instead.

To complete this file, you’ll need to review the server software documentation for all allowable syntax. This is where you’ll list the Xbox User Identification (XUID) for each player, and define their permissions. Each player is assigned a XUID when they join the server, which will be listed in the whitelist.json file and displayed in the server console when a player joins the game.

Step 6: Start Your Server

Once you’ve configured your Minecraft settings, you can start your server and begin building! To do that, you’ll need to use Terminal again, along with the following command:

LD_LIBRARY_PATH=. ./bedrock_server

Or, using screen to prevent server halting when disconnecting from the shell:

LD_LIBRARY_PATH=.screen -S minecraft ./bedrock_server

Then hit Enter, and you should be good to go. If you encounter any issues when starting the server, however, you can contact DreamHost support for help.

Conclusion

Setting up the Bedrock Edition on one of our dedicated servers gives you the flexibility to invite gamers on a wide variety of platforms to your Minecraft worlds. This gives you more options than the original Java edition of the game permits.

Here at DreamHost, we have dedicated server options to suit all your gaming needs. Check out our pricing options and server features and start building new worlds with Minecraft!

Let’s talk truth: The world is online. If a business or company doesn’t have a functional and appealing online presence, it’s unlikely you’re going to want to engage with them. And if you are a business, a working website is critical to the success of your company. It’s 2018! If your business doesn’t have a website by now, it should.

As a writer, I knew I needed my own piece of internet real estate if I wanted to market myself, and ideally, to advance my career. I needed to be searchable and have a branded space populated with content to showcase my work.

The problem? Well, I’m a writer, not a tech wiz. I had no clue where to begin.

Maybe you’re just like me — a rookie interested in getting yourself out there (virtually), but unsure of where to begin, feeling intimidated by the technological steps of setting up a website.

Let’s ride this wave together, shall we? In this post, I’ll share my beginner-friendly, step-by-step process of getting a killer website set up easily with DreamHost, and how I got up and running in under an hour. I promise — you can do it, too. Let’s get started!

Ready to carve out your online presence? Start bychoosing the right hosting plan for your business!

What Do You Need in a Web Host?

With some basic research, I learned that I not only needed to create my website, but I also needed a web host to get my site on the internet. It’s less confusing than it sounds — simply put, a web host is a provider that gives you server space so your website can be found on the web. So, a web host is a pretty vital tool.

As I was starting the process, I wasn’t about to pick any ol’ web host. I needed quality. I needed ease. And especially as a beginner, I needed support. Based on the needs of my site I developed a requirement list — i.e., what should my hosting provider offer me as a website owner? Here were my five must-haves.

1. Room to Grow

Websites are not one-size-fits-all. Some get heavy traffic and need customized e-commerce options; others cater to smaller crowds. I needed a hosting provider that offered a variety of options, tailored to my current needs, while providing flexibility for growth over time. I needed choices.

2. Quick and Easy Set Up

If at all possible, I wanted to avoid the advanced-degree-required learning curve for setting up a beautiful website. I’m a beginner, not yet fully versed in the universal language of web development. Plus, like many of you, I’m crunched for time. I needed to be able to set up a great-looking site during my kids’ nap time.

3. Budget-Friendly Options

I didn’t want my hosting service to cost an arm and a leg — hey, I’ve got bills, too! I needed an easy-on-the-wallet hosting option that still offered me professional service and quality hosting. A web host, while still an investment, shouldn’t break the bank.

4. WordPress Compatibility

Because I’m already familiar with the CMS of WordPress — having started a bunch of this-and-that blogs in the past — I wanted my web host to have WordPress compatibility (again, trying to avoid learning curves here). I wanted to be able to keep my comfortable WordPress surroundings and hit the ground running without any hiccups.

5. Strong Customer Support

Even with an easy-to-use web host, I knew there would be times where I would be banging on my keyboard when things went wrong. I needed a web host with all-access customer service for questions and comments. I needed a provider that would be supportive at every step of my web journey.

So, Why DreamHost?

With my hosting shopping list in mind, it wasn’t hard to single out DreamHost as my top choice for web hosting. Why? This award-winning web host is a one-stop-shop provider featuring an easy-to-use control panel, 24/7 support, extensive and flexible plan options, and lots more — all at an affordable cost. Plus, DreamHost is officially recommended by WordPress! Can’t beat that stamp of approval.

How I Set Up My DreamHost Site

So, what’s it actually like to set up a website with DreamHost? Whether you’re considering DreamHost as the hosting provider for your website or you’re currently using another service, know that DreamHost can be an A+ option for you, no matter the needs of your site. Let’s walk step-by-step through the process of setting up a website with DreamHost — visuals included!

Picking a Plan

Because of my newbie status, I knew I wouldn’t be expecting Cyber Monday amounts of traffic on my site (at least, not right now. A girl can hope, right?) So a Shared WordPress Hosting Starter plan felt like the right place for me to start — and it could be for you too, if you’re an individual or small business just trying to get your name out there.

Choosing a Domain

As if you needed yet another reason why DreamHost is the bomb.com, choosing a domain is easy. It’s also included free with one-year hosting plan packages. Score!

Because I wanted to brand myself and my freelance writing business, I chose my name as my domain name; luckily, it wasn’t taken. If you’re a small business, your domain will likely be your business name. But if you need options or want to get creative, make sure to brush up on the SEO best practices for domains before you commit.

Choosing a Payment Plan

Now onto the dollars and cents. As I mentioned, money was a factor for me in deciding which web host to use. With shared hosting and other plans, you can choose month-to-month payment plans or annual options. To save a little extra $$$, I chose a yearly plan to get things started — a good middle ground. If you just want to give your plan a try, select the monthly option. If you’re more confident, go for three years — it’s easily the best value at $7.95 a month.

Want to know how much you’ll ultimately pay? Keep an eye on the top right corner of your browser during set-up. DreamHost is transparent about pricing — “the money part” will keep you clued in to what your total payment will be.

Once you select any additional options you might want, you pay up, and voila! Your DreamHost plan is set up.

Now you can access your DreamHost dashboard, where you’ll find account details and manage additional setups. Here, you can register your domain, set up mail (yes, you can get a designated email that matches your domain!), and install apps. For me, the next step was to get WordPress installed.

So where to do that?

Getting WordPress Set Up

One-Click Installs on the left navigation panel will take you where you need to go. WordPress installation is lightning-fast. With the installation complete, I logged into WordPress and get started customizing my site theme and creating content.

Designing Your Site and Creating Content

WordPress has tons of theme options — both free and paid — and scanning through options was (surprisingly) fun. I got to match my theme to the feel I wanted my website to have. You can even upload other compatible themes you’ve purchased or downloaded from other sites. I chose CoupLite from Themes Kingdom and uploaded it in the Themes panel.

FYI: DreamHost has an extensive library of help articles on tons of WordPress-related topics!

Now, it was time to start creating. From the Posts section, I started writing blog posts, outfitting them with images and selecting categories.

I’m no photographer so I needed some images that I could integrate with my site cheaply. I found beautiful royalty-free images on the web and did some basic editing.

Showcase Your Winning Website

Truly, DreamHost makes setting up a site quick and painless. (Let’s be honest: there’s enough in the tech world that’s confusing.) Anyone — seriously, all skill levels — can create a professional-looking site without sacrificing tons of time or money.

If you’re still on the fence: what’s keeping you? You can do it in 60 minutes or less too.